Introduction: Hotwheels Flash Drive
This Instructable will show you how to take a simple hotwheels car, and turn it into the coolest flash drive ever!
I would love to see your creations. If you have made a Hotwheels flash drive post a pic as a comment.
Step 1: Selecting a Car
The fist I made was a Hotwheels 07 Dodge Challenger. But you can probably use any car you like. A car with tinted windows won't have the interior so there will be more room inside to put the flash drive. Decide if you want the flash drive in front or back. Whichever one you chose it needs to be big enough to house the unit. For this Instructable I used a new Camaro. It worked well and recommend it.
Step 2: Tools You Will Need
The tools you will need are a Dremel and a flat-head screwdriver. The screwdriver is used for the flash drive case. The Dremel is used for all modifications to the car.
Step 3: Taking Apart the Car
Taking apart the car is easy. Use your Dremel with the drill bit. Carefully drill out the rivet or rivets on the bottom. Some cars have two of them. Once the rivets are drilled out, the car will fall apart into pieces.
Step 4: Taking Apart the USB Case
Now take your flash drive. Be really careful in taking it apart, there are fragile parts inside.
Take your flat-head screwdriver and pry the two halves apart. If you use a drive that retracts, you have more to remove.
Step 5: Cut the Rivet Off of the Frame
If your car has a rivet on the end you want to put the flash drive, you will need to cut it off of the frame of the car. The Dremel with the metal cutting wheel is perfect. This will make room for the flash drive.
Step 6: Cut Through the Interior
If you chose a car with an interior, you have to cut a hole through the back seat to make room for the drive. You might have to trim some off of the front seats as well. This is why cars with tinted windows are easier to work with. Which ever one you have you have to cut some plastic off of the back.
Step 7: Cut a Hole in the Back
Now you need to cut a hole the size of the flash drive in the back of the car. Measure the usb connector and then measure the end of the car. I used masking tape to cover the part I didn't want to cut. Use your Dremel with the drill bit to cut a hole. Then I used the tungsten carbide cutter (product # 9901) to open the hole to the right size and shape. You want this to fit as snugly as possible.
Step 8: Dry Fitting
Before you glue it all in, you want to dry fit it first. You want to make sure all the parts fit together. Take everything but the bottom with the wheels, and assemble it with the USB sticking out the back. Then attach the bottom of the car. Make sure everything fits right. The flash drive might not fit the first time. If it doesn't fit, make little adjustments until everything fits properly.
Step 9: Glue Everything Into Place
Now that everything fits, you can glue the parts into place. Take the frame of the car, put the windows in. Then put the interior with the flash drive in. If the flash drive does not fit snug, you will need to glue it in place first. I used hot glue for mine although you can use any glue you have laying around. Glue the interior to the frame at the ends. Now you can glue the bottom on. If you chose a car with one rivet, their will be a lip on the bottom part of the car. That is what holds the car in. This only means that it will be a little trickier to get the bottom on. But you wont need as much glue.
23 Comments
6 years ago
Very cool I will try a 1967 Camaro
9 years ago on Introduction
i like to try the Hotwheels 08 Ford Focus now a (08 Mazda 3) i customized the car i want before i can use a flashdrive for it.
11 years ago on Introduction
I made it! Pic will be uploaded in next comment. I do suggest, however, not using hot glue to secure the USB drive itself; if the drive overheats, it softens the glue. I will be replacing the hot melt glue holding the USB drive to the bottom of the car with cyanoacrylate glue (Super Glue).
11 years ago on Introduction
I would like to point out that in Step 9, you said that "any glue" can be used. However, since some glues are water-based, this would not work with Elmer's Glue, for example; it would damage the components of the flash drive. Perhaps you could point out that if using water-based glue, one should cover the flash drive with electrical tape (If room is available.)
11 years ago on Introduction
would it work with a plastic car?
11 years ago on Introduction
1,000,000
1,000,000
stars
:)
:o)
11 years ago on Introduction
im thinking of making one with a '65 impala
12 years ago on Introduction
I did it !!!!!!!!
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Nice job! I love the car.
12 years ago on Introduction
dis is de ford torino usb
13 years ago on Introduction
I did this a few years ago, but a bit differently. I took a Hotwheels van, and popped out the back window. Then I glued it in.
13 years ago on Introduction
I love this project, but I have run into a problem.I can't seem to remove the rivet. do you have any tip or ticks(like the size of the drill bit)
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
I used a drill bit that is almost the same size of the rivet. I like to use lube while drilling. This keeps the friction down and makes the drilling go smoother. Hope that helps.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
I just finished here it is(sorry about the pic my camra is messed up so ihad to use photo booth.)
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
looks nice. good job.
13 years ago on Introduction
Hey everyone, let me know if you have built one of these things. I want to know if any one has joined my insanity!
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Cool Idea here is one I built (sorry For the bad quality)
13 years ago on Introduction
wow this is awesome. i want to make one but my dad probably won't let me use his dremel.
13 years ago on Introduction
i want to make a speed racer one, so im buying another speed racer car for it soon and im also thinking of making a secret compartment in my mouse for a flash drive
13 years ago on Introduction
A++ Shaggs! Does June-Bug let you do your instructables all over her coffee table...? Cause I've been relegated to the garage. Very cool!